Press Releases

Bayshore Home Health's Bridging the Gap One-on-One events celebrate first National Seniors Day

– New initiative gives elected officials opportunity for more feedback from seniors –

Mississauga, ON, OCT. 6, 2010 – Politicians and local seniors discussed a variety of topics in Bayshore Home Health's Bridging the Gap One-on-One events held across the country on October 1. The events coincided with the first ever National Seniors Day which was introduced last June in a bill passed by the House of Commons. The new day is a way to celebrate the contributions Canada's seniors make to their families, communities, workplaces and society.

"Seniors who participated in Bridging the Gap One-on-One were given a rare opportunity to share their experiences and challenges with elected officials," says Mike Krunic, director of marketing for Bayshore Home Health. "It also gave politicians an opportunity to get feedback from constituents on issues relating specifically to seniors."

The events were held in a number of cities including Toronto, Ottawa, Windsor, Hamilton, Barrie, Oshawa, Oakville, Brockville, Mississauga, Sudbury and Calgary. A variety of elected officials participated including members of parliament, members of provincial parliament, mayors and mayoral candidates.

"The conversation between the seniors and MPP who attended the Toronto event covered a wide range of topics," says Robert Lanc, area director for Bayshore's Toronto branch. "The Honourable Peter Fonseca, Ontario's Minister of Labor was genuinely interested and very inquisitive, asking questions about how the seniors were managing and the kind of care they required to live independently in their homes."

Discussions at other events included topics such as home care versus the care provided by long-term care facilities, the personal stories of participating seniors, funding formats for private and public pay home care and other community services that can help seniors live independently.

Bayshore Home Health's area directors commented that the politicians who participated became more aware of home health care. "Many people don't understand the kind of services that home health care provides," adds Anita Fitches, area director for Bayshore Home Health in Brockville, Ont. "In the Brockville meeting Mayor David Henderson was interested to learn about the breadth of short- to long-term personal care needs that home health care addresses, and that home care is a viable alternative to institutional care."

Overall, Krunic deems Bridging the Gap a success. "Bridging the Gap One-on-One was designed to encourage discussion about public policy and real people's lives," he concludes. "Bayshore was successful in organizing meetings that gave politicians a glimpse into what a senior's life is like and how home care services in the community can help the elderly live independently, rather than turning to long-term care facilities."

About Bayshore Home Health

Bayshore Home Health has been enhancing the quality of life, dignity and independence of Canadians in their homes since 1966. Canadian owned and operated, it is the country's largest provider of home and community health care services, with more than 50 home care offices, 20 community care clinics and 8,000 employees. Its core services are in-home nursing, personal care and home support – which can be purchased directly by individuals and also accessed through government care programs, personal and group insurance plans and workplace safety insurance. The company also provides nurse/caregiver staffing services, health education programs and treatments in its community dialysis centres. Through its subsidiary, Bayshore Specialty Rx, it offers infusion pharmacy, infusion clinic and pharmaceutical support services to a variety of health care and pharmaceutical organizations.

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www.bayshore.ca